A palace for each of his six wives and £155,000 just on military uniforms for his 28 children: Jaw-dropping life of Zulu King is blamed for sparking South African bloodshed by branding immigrants 'lice

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The Zulu king blamed for sparking the violence against foreigners which has seen South Africa's streets turn into battlefields running with blood over the past two weeks is no stranger to scandal.
It was just a couple of years ago that King Goodwill Zwelithini - who last month said foreigners should 'pack their belongings' and leave - labelled homosexuals as 'rotten'.
The dyed-in-the-wool traditionalist has also courted the wrath of women's rights and HIV/Aids campaigners for his hardline stance on controversial traditional virginity testing.Controversial: King Goodwill Zwelithini (pictured) has been blamed for sparking the xenophobic riots which has left at least seven dead in the last couple of weeks as it spreads from Durban to JohannesburgHorrific: The brutal murder of Mozambican man Emmanuel Sithole in a township near Johannesburg was captured on camera. Zwelithini has been blamed for sparking outbursts of xenophobic violence like thisXenophobia: The King is said to have told followers in a speech that foreigners were 'lice' and 'ants' and should be expelled from South Africa - a charge he denies, saying it was bad translationFrenzy: A burnt-out car in the Jeppestown area of Johannesburg. King Zwelithini recently told a crowd of 10,000 that if he had really ordered people to be killed 'this country would be reduced to ashes'Obscene: Zola Mafu arrives at the Ondini Sports Complex in Ulundi in a Rolls Royce for her wedding to King Zwelithini in July. She became his sixth wife at the lavish ceremonyDefence: Zwelithini also claimed his words were badly translated in 2012 when he called gay people 'rotten'Nuptials: His wedding to sixth wife Zola Mafu (pictured) in July cost an estimated R4million, or about £250,000Opulent: Another scene from Mafu's wedding to the king. She was selected as his bride at the age of 18 while participating in the 2003 Swazi reed dancePower: Zwelithini's speech last month is said to be the cause of the violence which has turned the streets into a battleground, sending foreigners running for the safety of special campsLuxurious: But the King - pictured here right at the annual reed dance at eNyokeni Royal Palace last year - more often comes under fire for lavish spending on his six wives, 28 children and numerous grandchildrenFunding: Zwelithini is given R54million (about £3million) by the South African government each yearJoy: The new King and Queen celebrate during their wedding, yet Zwelithini is a man who likes to spend more on his birthday cake than many of his subjects earn in a lifetimeBankrupt: But the King (centre) ran out of money last year following a particularly expensive few months, and had to beg for more funds - which the government, led by fellow Zulu Jacob Zuma (left), approvedFollowers: But despite the extravagances, the King - pictured with Prince Charles in 2011 - is still adored by millions of people, many impoverished, willing to follow his every instructionRaid: Zulu hostel dwellers on the staircase during a joint South African Police and army raid in Johannesburg yesterday. The raid was aimed at tackling gangs which have been hunting down and killing foreignersHands up: Zulus up against a wall waiting to be searched during the police raid on the hostel last nightOutcast: There are about 7,000 foreigners sheltering in special camps in Durban and JohannesburgFearful: Potential gang members lie face down on the floor during the police and army action at the hostel
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